Refrigerating apparatus



C. C. HANSEN.

REFHIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED ,wa-11.1911.

Patented Feb. 17,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l C. C. HANSEN.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS'.

APPLICATION msn AuG.11.1917. v

1,380,867, v Patented Feb. 17,1920.

-' @'.iEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. HANSEN, OF FOREST PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO REFRIGERATING SPECIALTIES COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF' ILLINOIS. y

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters `Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

Original application filed February 23, 1916, Serial No. 79,814. Divided and this application'iiled August 17, 1917. Serial No. 186,658.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. HANSEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of 'ForestPark in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to the mechanism for controlling the operation of the compressor .responsively to variations in temperature of the compartment to be refri erated. v

he present application contains subjectmatter which is a division of an application filed by me February 23, 1916, Serial No. 79,814.

One object of the invention is to provide improved controlling mechanism for automatically cutting out a' fuse in the circuit for the motor which operates the compressor, during the initial portion of each operation of the motor or while the compressor is being started, so that when the fuse is of the correct resistance to protect the apparatus under a normal running load, it will not be blown out by the abnormal stresses in starting the compressor. By providing this automatic fuse cut out which is operated by the starting mechanism, a fuse may be employed which will render the circuit inoperative during any overload after the compressor has been started.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved thermostatic controlling mechanism for the motor for driving the compressor in which provision is made for snapping a switch lever into and out of closed position to prevent sparking at the switch.

The invention consists in the novel features hereinafter set forth and more particuitV larly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical section of the improvedcontrolling mechanism, parts being shown in elevation. Fig. la is a section taken on line la--la of Fig. 1. Fig. 1b is a section taken on li-ne 1"-1b of Fig. la. Fig. 2 is an end view, the case bef The invention is exemplified as applied to a refrigerating apparatus comprising (Fig. 4) a pump or compressor a for the refrigerant; a refrigerant line o suitably connected to the pump; a'condenser coil o in a tank d a receiver c for the refrigerant;

an electric motor 17 for driving the compressor, and a pipe 16 which supplies cooling water to the condenser and is connected to the tank al. Motor 17 is connected to be supplied with current from a pair of lineconductors 18 and 19. A switch comprising contacts 20 and 21' and a lever 22 is included in a conductor 19b which connects one brush of the motor to the line-conductor 19. The other brush of this motor is connected to line-conductor 18 by a branchconductor 18a. A starting motor 23 is employed to operate a valve 52 for controlling the waterv supply to the condenser, the switch lever 22 for controlling the operation of the motor 17 and a circuit controller 30. This startin motor is suitably mounted upon a brac et 34 which is adapted to be secured to some suitable convenient support of the system. A hood 35 incloses said starting motor and its associated parts. Controller 30 is secured to a shaft 41 which is driven by a motor 23 through a geartrain comprising a worm 36 on the motorshaft andmeshing with a gear 37 on an upright shaft 38, and a worm 39 on the shaft 38 meshing with a suitable gear 40 which is fixed to the controller shaft 41. 41 is mounted in bearings 45 and 46.

A cam 76 on the shaft 41 operates a vertical slide 73. The lower end of this slide bears against a lever 74 which is pivoted, as at 75, to a lug 58. This lever isv pressed upwardly by a spring 80 held in a slotted housing 80 and its dlstal end is pivotally connected to an arm 77 which is pivoted to a lug 79 at 78. A link 81 pivoted to switch lever 22 'at 82 is slidable longitudinally in Shaft the hub of arm 77. A head 83 on thelowerend of link 81 acts as a one-way stop between link 81 and arm 77. A spring 84 coiled around link 81 is interposed between the hub of arm '77 and the upper end of said link. lVhen the cam 76 is operated, slide 73 will force lever 74 downwardly. Such movement will rock arm 77 vand link 81 about pivot 78. Link 81 and lever 22 are adapted to cross the dead-center to compress and render the spring 84 active to snap the lever 22 into the switch-contact 21. Likewise, the spring 84 serves to move the lever 22 outwardly after the linkage has passed the deadcenter during retraction of. lever 74 to open the switch. r1`he hole in lever 74 for pivot 7 5 is elongated to permit arcuate movement of said pivot. This mechanism exemplifies motor-controlling mechanism for ell'ecting a quick shift of the switch-lever to avoid sparking at the contacts.

Shaft 41 is operated in cycles of one-half revolution each to alternately start and stop motor 17 and cam 76 is formed to close switeh'lever 22 during the latter portion of the starting cycle to permit it to remain closed between the starting and stopping cycles.

A supply pipe 50 for cooling water is connected to a valve casing 51 and pipe 16 for conducting water to the condenser is connected'to the outlet in this casing. At the inlet side of this casing, valve which is normally closed by a spring 53, controls the flow of cooling water from a supply pipe 50 through the casing 51. The stem 54 of valve 52 extends upwardly and is adapted to be operated by a suitable cam 57 on shaft 41. This cam. is Jformed to open valve 52 during the initial operation of the starting cycle of the motor, to close the valve during the latter portion of the stopping cycle, and to hold the valve open between the starting and stopping cycles of shaft 41. The pressure of water in transit to pipe 16 operates a plunger 60 which is held normally raised by a spring 62. if the water supply fails or is below the minimum pressure necessary /connections for startingthe motor.

The pressure ot water in transit to the pipe 16 in a chamber 59 in casing 51 controls a plunger 60 which is slidably mounted in casing 51 at one side of the valve 52. The

upper side of this plunger is exposed to the water-pressure in chamber 59. A spring 62 serves to lift the plunger and to hold it normally raised with force slightly less than the minimum pressure required for the condenser c. Plunger 60 has openings 63 to register with the outlet-duct 64 leading-to the pipe 16. A screw 66 engaging a cap 67 on the lower end of spring 62 is adapted to adjust the force of this spring according to the pressure required in the operation vor the condenser. If the Water supply fails or is below the minimum pressure necessary for proper operation of the condenser, plunger 60 Will remain in the position shown in Fig. 1 and keep the outlet to pipe 16 closed. When water from pipe 50 is under' suiiicient or normal pressure, it will Aforce plunger 60 downwardly against the torce of spring 62 to bring ports 63 into position to cause water to flow through the casing 51 to the condenser as long as valve 52 is held open. When valve 52 is closed, spring 62 will restore plunger 60 to its normal position, it being understood that there will be a slight leakage between the plunger 60 and the cylinder 61, so that the water above the plunger 60 can escape to pipe 16. This device exemplifies'controlling means operated by the cooling liquid for controlling circuit connections for the starting lnotor.

Plunger 60 is secured to a stem, and the upper end of this stem'is provided with a nut 72 -for operating a circuit-controlling lever 103.. r1`his lever 103 is adapted to bridge across contacts 101 and, 102 to control a circuit for operating the starting-motor when the pressure of water is sutlicient for the condenser, and to bridge across another pair of contacts 99, 100 to control a circuit for operating the starting-motor, if the supply of water is insuflcientor fails. The connection between stem 69 and lever 103 comprises a lever 105 which is pivoted to suppdrt 34. as at 106` and to which a 110 spring 104 is applied to yieldingly hold the lever raised, and a link 107 pivoted to lever 105 and to an arm 108 on lever 10,3. Stem 69 is slidably held in a collar 109 on a stud 110 (see Figs. 1a and 1b), extending through H5 a slot 111 in lever 105. fWhen valve 532 is open, spring 104 will tend to operate lever 105 and switch-lever 103 into position to close a circuit at contacts 99. 100 and stem 69 ot plunger 60 will. responsively to the 120 water pressure` overcome the torce of spring 104 and retain lever 103 in position to close a circuit 101, 102. 7When valve is closed. switch-lever 103 will be held in said position by a lever 112, which is pivoted to a sta- 125 tionary stud 113, and has one of its ends disposed to be lifted by an abutment 114 on the stem 54 of valve 52 and its other end disposed to engage an abutment 115 on lever 105. 'When valve is opened, lever 112 is 13G released so that spring 104 may shift,levers 105 and 103 into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1a under control of plunger-stem 69. This shift occurs only when the Water-supply fails or is insufficient to cause nut 72 on the stem of plunger 60 to hold lever 105 downwardly agalnst the force of spring 104.

An annular contact-support 48 is secured to support 34 in associated relation with the controller 30 on shaft 41. Spring-contacts 32, 33 and' 94, preferably in the form of spring pressed radially slidable supports and rollers, are mounted for limited movement in and insulated from support 48. A springpressed shifter 97, carrying a roller adapted to be operated oy the controller 30, is also slidably mounted in support 48V and its outer end is adapted to operate a resilient switch 96, which is normally in engagement with the outer end of contact 94. Shifter 97 is insulated from member 96. Controller 30 is provided with a notch 30a for cutting out either of the contacts operating thereon and with a cam 31 for operating the shifter 97.

The starting motor 23 is included in a conductor 27 which is connected to the line-conductor 18 and to contacts 100 and 101. A conductor 27a connects contact 102 and a thermostat-contact 28. Contact 32 is connected to said'conductor. Aconductor 98 connects switch-member 96'and contact 99. Contact 33 is connected to the thermostat 24 byf a conductor 33. Contact 94 is connected by a conductor 25 to the line-conductor 19 and to the thermostat-contact 26.

A fuse 191 is included in conductor 19b which extends from line-conductor 19 to the switch-contact 20. A switch consisting of an arm 92 and an arcuate contact 91 is included in a conductor 90 which is connected to conductor 19b so as to cut out the fuse. Switcharm 92 is operated by member 92a on shaft 41 which is operated by the startingmotor 23. iVhen this switch is closed, the fuse will he short-circuited and current will be directly supplied to the motor 17. This cut-out switch is adapted to cause this to occur during the initial operation of motor 17 for a period of suiiicient length to enable the motor to start the compressor before the fuse 19 is cut into the circuit. During the remainder of each operation, said switch will be open to render the fuse operative. This device exemplifies a fuse cut-out for the compressor motor which is controlled and operated by the starting motor.

lVhen the compressor is at rest, the controlling mechanism will be in the position shown in Fig. 1. qWhen the temperature of the rcfrigerating room or space rises sufiicientl y to require operation of the system, the thermostat 24 will move against contact 26, whereupon a circuit for the operation of motor 23 will be established as fol lows: Line-conductor 18, conductor 27, in which motor 23 is included, contact 101, lever 103, contact 102, conductor 27a, contact 32, controller 30, contact 33, conductor 33, thermostat 24, contact 26, conductor 25 and 70 line-conductor 19. This circuit will cause the motor 23 to operate shaft 41 a cycle of one-half revolution or until the controller 30 has beenrotated a one-half revolution, at which time this circuit Will be interrupted between contact 32 and the controller 30. During the initial portion of this cycle of shaft 41, the water-valve 52 will be opened by cam 57. If the water pressure is sufficient, plunger 60 will operate stem. 69 and abutment 72 to hold switch 103 in its normal position across contacts 101 and 102, after stop 114 releases lever 112. Toward the end of this cycle, switch-lever 22 will b e shifted by cam 76 to close a circuit for motor 17 for driving the compressor, as follows: lineconductor 18, conductor 18a, motor 17, conductor 19", switch-contact 21, lever 22, contact 20, conductor 90 in which the switch 91, 92, is included, and conductors 19", 19. Initially, and during a suihcient period for the motor 17 to start the load, this circuit, through switch 91, 92 will continue, but before the circuit for the motor 23 is interrupted at the end of a starting cycle, lever 92 will be opened by its connection 92"L with shaft 41 to cut in the fuse 19a, and cause the current from contact 20 to pass to line-con ductor 19 through said fuse. This permits the motor to start the compressor before the 100 fuse is c-ut into the circuit.

Then the motor 1T has been operated for a suiiicient period to reduce the temperature in the refrigerating room to the predetermined minimum, thermostat 24 will' 105 engage contact 28, whereupon a circuit for operating the motor 23 and shaft 41 for a stopping cycle, will be established as follows: lineconductor 18, conductor 27, in which motor 23 is included, contact 101, 110 lever 103, contact 102, conductor 27a, thermostat-conta-ct 28, thermostat 24, conductor 33', contact 33, controller 30, contact 94, conductor 25 and line-conductor 19. This circuit will remain until shaft 41 and controller 115 .30 have been operated a half-revolution and the notch in the controller is adjacent the contact 94 when the last mentioned circuit. will be interrupted. During this stopping cycle, cam 76 will be operated initially to 120 permit switch-lever 22 to be opened by spring 80, and during the latter portion of this cycle, cam 57 will permit the watervalve to be closed 'by its spring 53. During the latter portion of this cycle, switch 90, 91 125 will pass into closed position to short circuit the fuse 19. At the conclusion of this stopping' cycle. controller 30 will break the circuit at contact 32, and the mechanism will be restored to normal position.

When valve 52 has been opened and'stop 114 is lowered to release lever 112, which holds lever 105 and switch-lever 103 in the normal position shown in Fig. 1b and the pressure in the water line is insufficient to operate plunger 60 to cause abutment 72 to hold levers 105 and 103 in said posltion, spring 104 will shift lever 103 into position to bridge across contacts 99, 100, and, there'- upon, a circuit for motor 23 will be established as follows: line conductor 18, conductor 27 in which motor 23 is included, contact 100, lever 103, contact 99, conductor 98, spring-contact '96, contact 9 4, conductor 25 and line-conductor 19. This circuit will cause the starting motor to be operated independently of the thermostatic contacts 26,

28, and will remain closed until the controller 30 has moved the full starting cycle and a portion of the stopping cycle of shaft 41, thatv is, until cam 31 on controller 30 has been rotated into contact with the shifter 97, whereupon, the last mentioned circuit will be interrupted at contacts 94, 96', causing theJ motor 2.3 to stop with the controller in position shown in Fig. 11. During this operation, the switch-lever 22'will be closed and again opened, and the water-valve 52 Will be opened and held open. The controlling mechanism will remain set in this -position until the water operates the plunger 60, whereupon it will automatically start the motor 23 and complete the stopping cycle of shaft 41 and immediately cause its operation through the starting cycle to restart the motor 17. lVhen plunger 60 shifts lever 103 into position shown in Fig. l", as the result of the restoration of water-pressure, said lever will establish .a circuit through motor 23.

The circuit will then be as follows: conductors 18, 27, Contact 101, lever 103, contact 102, conductor 27, contact 32, controller 30, contact 94 and conductors 25 and 19, until the controller concludes the normal stopping cycle. 4In lieu of stopping at the end of this cycle, the motor 23 will continue to operate because the thermostatic circuit through Contact 26 will be closed, until al normal starting cycle has been completed.

The mechanism set forth exemplifies refrigerating apparatus in which provision is made for cutting a fuse out of the compressor-driving motor-circuit untilv the compressor has been started. Also one in which provision is made for snapping the switch which controls the circuit for the compressor driving motor into and out of operative position to prevent sparking. It will be understood that these features may be used without the pressure controlled mechanism in connection with which the'invention is set forth The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spiritvand scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a refrigerating system, the combination of a compressor, a motor for driving the compressor, an electrical circuit for supplying current to said motor, a switch for controlling said circuit, avfuse in said circuit, a starting motor, a motor for operating said switch, a connection for cutting the fuse out of said circuit, and means independent of the circuit and operated by the motor for operating the switch to render the cut out connection operative during a predetermined portion of each starting cycle of the latter motor.

2. In a refrigerating system, the combination of a compressor, a motor for operating the compressor,a switch for controlling the operation of said motor, an electrical circuit for the switch, a fuse in said circuit, a starting motor for operating said switch, means for controlling the starting motor t0 alternately open and close the switch, a shaft operated by the starting motor, a switch and connection for cutting the fuse out of said circuit, and means operated by said shaft for operating the cut-out switch to render the fuse inoperative for a predetermined period during the initial portion of each operation of the compressor.

3. In a refrigerati'ig system, the combination of a compressor, a'motor for driving the compressor, an electrical circuit for supplying current to said motor, a switch for controlling said circuit, a fuse in said circuit, a motor for operating saidswitch, a shaft operated by the switch-operating motor, a connection for cutting the fuse out of the circuit, said circuit comprising a switch, both of said switches being operatively connected to said shaft.

4. In a refrigerating system, the combination of a compressor, a motor for operating the compressor, a switch for controlling the operation of said motor, an electrica-l circuit for the switch, a fuse in said circuit, a starting motor for operating said switch, a shaft operated by the starting motor, a circuit controller on said shaft, a switch for cutting the fuse out of said circuit, and means operated by said shaft for the cat-out switch to render the fuse inoperative for a predetermined period during the initial portion of each operation of the compressor.

5. In an automatic refrigerating system, the combination with a compressor, a motor for operating the compressor, a switch comprising a lever for cont-rolling the operation ofsaid motor, of a starting motor, mechanism operated by said motor for shifting said switch, comprising a link pivoted to t rastrear said lever to form a linkage adapted to cross l the dead center, and means for accelerating the shift cf the linkage after it has crossed ithe,dead-center to" operate more quickly than the movement of the shifting-means. 6. In a refrigerating system, the combination with a compressor, a motor for operatn ing the compressor, a switch comprising a lever for .controlling f the operation of said motor, of a, starting motor, mechanism o 'erated by said motor for shifting said sw1tch,

comprising a link pivoted to said lever to form a linkage adapted to cross the dead center, a lost-motion 'connection for the linkvage, and means for accelerating the shit'of tion with a compressor, a motor for operat-I.

ing the compressor, a switch comprising a lever'- for controlling the operation of said motor, of a starting` motor, mechanism operated by said motor for shifting said switch, comprising a link pivoted to saidL lever to form a linkage adapted to cross the ldead center, and an arm to which the link is slidably connected, and means for accelerating the shift of the linkage after it has crossed the dead center to operate more quickly than the movement'of the shifting-means.

-8. In a refrigerating system, the combina# tion with a compressor, a motor for operating the compressor, a switch comprising a llever for controlling the operation of saidmotor, of a starting motor, mechanism operated by said motor for shifting said switch, i

comprising a link pivote'd'to said` lever to form a linkage adapted 'to cross the dead center, and an arm to which the link is slidahlyconnected, a lever -pivoted to said arm,

and mea-ns forfaccelerating the shift 'of the* linkageafter it has crossed the dead center to operate more quickly than the movement of the shifting means.

' CHARLES C. HANSEN. 

